Slice Cultures as a Model to Study Neurovascular Coupling and Blood Brain Barrier In Vitro
Figure 1
Calcein labeling of astrocytes in hippocampal slice cultures. (a) Representative 3D reconstruction of calcein labeled astrocytes in the stratum radiatum of a hippocampal slice culture after short-term (~10 min) bulk staining with calcein-AM. (b) Lower magnification (20x objective) image of calcein labeled astrocytes in the stratum lacunosum moleculare. Note the subset of astrocytes covering a large vessel. (c) Representative series of confocal images from a vessel (1.2 μm steps). Calcein-labeled astrocytes and fine astrocytic processes were present in the neuropil but no calcein fluorescence could be observed within the lumen of the vessel. Astrocytic endfeet completely ensheathed the vessel. Scale bars represent 10 μm in (a, c) and 100 μm in (b).
